Salad in jars? Just plain silly. Cheese in jars? Just plain brilliant.

You buy the cheese. You slice the cheese. You eat the cheese. And then you do it all again. That's how the cheese-lover's life goes, right?

Not so fast. Fresh cheeses, like goat cheese buttons, baby mozzarella balls, and cubed feta, aren't living their best life unless you give them some marinating time in a jar. Just like roasted red peppers or a skirt steak that's destined for the grill, fresh cheese only becomes more flavorful when it's left to percolate in olive oil and a few choice seasonings.

And since the cheese is fresh and mild, it doesn't compete with the flavors you add to it. It becomes even more delicious—just the thing to pile on crisp, garlic-rubbed toast or pretty much any salad. Bonus: Since the olive oil protects cheese from exposure to air, your cheese will stay fresh for up to 5 days. Here's how it's done:

Find yourself a jar

Full disclosure: Marinating cheese in jars isn't just about making it more delicious—it's also about making it look damn good. And white cheese, packed in a jar with olive oil, looks just as beautiful as a jar of pickles, with far less effort. Score a wide-mouth jar, and you'll have a container that can go straight from the fridge to the table, even when you've got company coming.

Spike that jar with flavor

Loosely pack your jar (or any other resealable container) with chunks, balls, or slabs of cheese. There'll still be plenty of space in there for adding aromatics. Sliced lemons? Great. Roasted lemon slices? Even better. Peeled garlic cloves, crushed dried chiles, branches of rosemary or thyme—it's all fair game.

Pour in your favorite olive oil

Think of that olive oil as a delivery system, ready to transport flavor from your aromatics into your fresh cheese. Just pour in enough to fill the jar and completely cover the cheese. One note: If you're drenching your cheese in olive oil, you want to use the good stuff. The best part? After the cheese is a mere memory, you'll have that flavorful oil left over to drizzle over pasta or toss with vegetables before roasting.